Bowling Green Fire Division continues to grow Knox Box program, 23 more to be installed next week

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (WTVG) – Continuing to help the community and keep people safe. The Knox Box program in Bowling Green is growing and helping first responders safely tend to residents in an emergency.

The boxes are geared toward residents who may not be able to get to the door in an emergency. First responders told 13 Action News the devices help to speed up response times and make things more efficient.

It’s a way to keep residents safe and their homes free of damage.

“A Knox Box is a very robust case that contains a key to a resident’s home. And allows us to gain access in an emergency,” said Bowling Green Fire Division Deputy Chief Tony Zmarzly.

This isn’t a new program for those in Wood County, but it is a growing one.

“We currently have 121 boxes installed in Bowling Green. We just received 23 more, and we expect those to be installed by next week. There’s an ongoing waiting list, and so we should have 140 total by next week,” said Zmarzly.

Zmarzly said the Knox Box program started about six years ago with a goal of efficiency in mind. He said they use them about once or twice a month.

“We have these boxes installed because some elderly residents or disabled residents that call us in an emergency may not be able to get to the door and they live alone. So by having that box in the door with their key inside, we have quick access to that key and we can get into their residence without doing damage to a door or window,” said Zmarzly.

The boxes are placed on the top of the door and the BG Fire Division is the only one with access, having a key accessible in every vehicle. These are no cost to the resident but cost the fire division around $250 each. Most boxes are being funded by the Bowling Green Firefighters Community Benefit Fund.

“It allows us to gain access quickly in the case of an emergency so we can get help to that resident quickly,” said Zmarzly.

Zmarzly said anyone can apply for this program, although there is an ongoing wait list. There is an application on the fire department’s website or you can call the fire division directly.

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